gdp's Comments

FinerMinds : Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi - Day 16 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 02:12:48 +0000

Flow is opposite of psychic entropy, attaining it develops stronger, confident self Contents of consciousness leads to either Happiness/Misery; emotions independent of outside events Cultural meanings change; Rituals from traditions cannot institutionalize control of consciousness. It's up to you Actual Doing & Practice > Theoretical Knowing Consciousness Control = Focus attention, oblivious to distraction, concentrate until achieve goal. Leads to more enjoyment of life Enjoyment & flow happens when challenges/goals match capacity/opportunities to act. Otherwise: <Boredom; >Anxiety Challenge leads to growth, meaning, rejuvenation & health People are more satisfied & happy when feel skillful & challenged; yet we still want more leisure time Adversity can paralyze. Transform it into an enjoyable/meaningful challenge that's in your control Knowing desires & working w/ purpose leads to inner harmony b/c feelings, thoughts & actions are congruent 1st reform self to change world

FinerMinds : The Pursuit Of Perfect By Tal Ben-Shahar - Day 15 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:50:07 +0000

Alternative to pursuing maladaptive, idealist Perfectionism is "Optimalism" (i.e. adaptive, constrained perfectionism) Optimalist embraces constraints of human nature rather than rejects Failure happens Optimistically find Benefits rather than Faults & turn setbacks into opportunities Challenge self, Try frequently & Fail often -> Leads to growth, learning, maturation, resilience & eventually success Active acceptance = recognize things as they are / CHOICE of worthy action / act in accordance w/ ideal self Appreciate = to be thankful AND to increase in value -> Gratitude Grows Good in our lives Optimalists accept facts & reality Take breaks to prevent psychological injuries of emotional harm, lethargy, anxiety, depression Recovery naturally w/o pills via breaks: 15min micro; 8hr mid; 3weeks macro We react to our interpretations of events: Event -> Thought -> Emotion Distorted thoughts pollute emotions Change thoughts to change emotions If not do unto others, don't do to self

FinerMinds : Think & Grow Rich By Napoleon Hill - Day 14 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:25:25 +0000

State of mind + Definite Purpose + Persistence + Burning Desire -> Material, Emotional & Spiritual Wealth Claims of Impossibility assume you know all the rules & things which cannot be done Keys to success are Burning Desire to win & eliminating retreat paths We control our thoughts Dominant thoughts are magnets that create plans to manifest our desires Encourage positive emotions & discourage negative sentences Self-confidence affirmation: Have ability to achieve definite life purpose Demand persistent action towards it Promise to achieve it Dominating thoughts are manifested into action & reality Focus for 30min creating clear vision of who I intend to become Persistently replace any failed plans w/ a new plan Causes of failure -> Lack of well-defined purpose, ambition, self-discipline, concentration, enthusiasm, cooperation Surround yourself w/ people & books that inspire you Persistence is fueled by desires & defines your character Walk the walk before you talk the talk

FinerMinds : The 80/20 Principle By Richard Koch - Day 13 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:37:12 +0000

20% efforts leads to 80% results. 80/20 ratio is found in many different places in nature & society. 20% of what we do leads to 80% of the results, & we waste 80% on low-impact outcomes Work less by focusing on limited number of goals. 20% products OR 20% customers = 80% of sales. Discover what 20% of effort yields best results & do more of that. Know what you want, then aim for it. Focus on what you find easy. Pursue things that you are amazingly better than others & that you enjoy the most. Relationships define who we are & what we can become. Success can be traced back to pivotal relationships. 20% people = 80% of joy. Quality not quantity. Invest emotional energy deepening important relationships. 20% books = 80% content. Read intros & conclusions & jump around, not cover-to-cover. 20% eating = 80% health. Drink water, breakfast, fruits, veggies. 80/20 is about focusing your energy on the highest leverage activities. Cherish the 20% activities when you discover them.

FinerMinds : Overachievement By John Eliot, Ph.D. - Day 12 Of The PhilosphersNotes Challenge

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:55:45 +0000

Thanks Mark. I'm not really making a checklist, but rather a digest. I'm trying to summarize each note in 1000 characters or less. It helps me to nail down the essence of each of the big ideas.

FinerMinds : Overachievement By John Eliot, Ph.D. - Day 12 Of The PhilosphersNotes Challenge

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:48:27 +0000

Focus on the target & flow into a Trusting Mindset by doing what you've learned w/o questioning your abilities / skills. Training Mindset is filled w/ overthinking Don't avoid pressure & edges via relaxing breath, welcome & flow into pressure & push through beyond edges Welcome stress & nervous butterflies. Enjoy & make it work to our advantage Fight/Flight response to pressure & nervousness allows body to operate efficiently at highest level of performance. Anxiety & worry is our mental interpretation of that state Confidence is state of mind where you believe nothing is impossible Positive Action is to act w/o thinking about how great it'll be. Exceptional thinkers trust & act Be totally engaged in the moment by channeling stressing into a Super-Pilot mode, not autopilot flow Let it happen w/o concern of results, criticism, doubt or judgment Worldchangers are considered nuts till proven right, then geniuses Best performers ignore odds & what's realistic to pursue big dreams

FinerMinds : Spiritual Liberation By Michael Bernard Beckwith — Day 9 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:13:03 +0000

Good point. It made me go back and re-watch and re-read where I got the digest of "Transcend ego & live from authentic self" to see if I had left anything out. In the video you said, "Beckwith talks about how important it is that if we want to transcend the merely and purely egoic relationship to life and live from our authentic self -- our highest expression of ourselves -- we've got to have discipline." So it looks like you were saying that we shouldn't have a 100% purely Egoic relationship to life, which is more nuanced. But in the note, Beckwith says, "“The transition from the egoic self to the Authentic Self requires discipline..." So I guess I interpreted his "transition from egoic self" to mean "transcend ego." It sounds like what you're saying is that it's more of a shift of a center of gravity of pure ego, and to transcend the limitations of ego and include the broader aspects of the Authentic Self.

FinerMinds : Paulo Coelho — Day 7 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:37:28 +0000

When your soul is stirred w/ heartfelt desire, then the Universe conspires to help manifest it. Nature wouldn't gives us a desire if we didn't have the ability to manifest it. The FEAR of suffering is WORSE then suffering. Fear of failure only thing that blocks dreams. No suffering in following your heart to dreams. Act on ideas to kill stagnation. Courage comes from heart. Move into fears to dissolve them. Capability to live an extraordinary life is within all of us. The Warrior of the Light sees failure & suffering, but never loses hope for self-improvement. Falling from 3rd floor hurts as much from 100th so climb up, but build scaffolding along the way. Scars are medals of evolution & trauma is fated for expansion 5 yrs from now you'll laugh at current stresses Grave faults = disrespect rights, fear paralysis, guilt, victim, cowardice Notice beauty of life Harmlessly contradict stale opinions If at 90% done, act like you're only 50% there Live & Spirit will Live WITH you

FinerMinds : Secrets Of The Millionaire Mind By T. Harv Eker — Day 6 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:09:07 +0000

Play to win w/ commitment through short-term struggles. Diligently, Persistently, Patiently, Playfully commit to being/achieveing/doing. Accept current output, but nurture your roots to change tomorrow's fruits. Use Declarations to set future intentions rather than saying dissonant Affirmations Conditioned Programming leads to Thoughts -> Feelings -> Actions -> Results. Re-program w/ empowerment. If want income to grow, we must grow. NO to victim & powerless complaining. YES to Assuming Control. Spiritual AND financial wealth are both important Aim for the stars & settle for the moon If you have a big problem, then grow your character & transform it into an opportunity. Action always beats inaction. Give blessings to your desires. Either you AFFECT people w/ inspiration OR INFECT them w/ negativity. If not willing to receive, then training others not to give to you. Expand Comfort Zone to increase Wealth Zone -- Happiness comes from growth & living to full potential.

FinerMinds : Ask And It Is Given by Esther & Jerry Hicks — DAY 5 Of The PhilosophersNotes Challenge

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:43:19 +0000

Law of attraction = like attracts like. Tune into higher vibrations to receive matching signals back. Victim-mentality & external locus of control leads to unhappiness. Be an empowered visionary who creates your meaning for resilient happiness. Emotions are a fuel gauge for how connected to Source you are 22-pt Scale 1. Joy/Knowledge/Empowerment/Freedom/Love/Appreciation 2. Passion 3. Enthusiasm/Eagerness/Happiness 4. Positive Expectation/Belief 5. Optimism 6. Hopefulness 7. Contentment 8. Boredom 9. Pessimism 10. Frustration/Irritation/Impatience 11. "Overwhelment" 12. Disappointment 13. Doubt 14. Worry 15. Blame 16. Discouragement 17. Anger 18. Revenge 19. Hatred/Rage 20. Jealousy 21. Insecurity/Guilt/Unworthiness 22. Fear/Grief/Depression/Despair/Powerlessness Nurture yourself up the scale, don't be self-critical. "What do you want?" focuses on essence of intentions. If you can imagine & script it, then Universe can provide resources for manifesting it. Appreciation increases happiness. Segment Intending is being conscious of desire moment-to-moment